Late last month, Rev. Mark Schaefer, instructor and United Methodist chaplain at American University, and David Trim, director of Archives, Statistics, and Research at the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters discussed Adventist history on the Washington DC-based WVTF Interfaith Voices radio show. In this thoughtful 26-minute conversation they also get into Adventist world mission and the interpretation of apocalyptic literature.

"In 1844, a religious movement called the Millerites predicted that Jesus would return on October 22nd of that year. The day came to be known as 'The Great Disappointment.' Nearly twenty years later, a break-away Millerite founded the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Although they’ve been waiting 150 years, the Adventists still believe the apocalypse is imminent. But they’ve learned their lesson: only God knows the true date."